CD Details

Number of Discs: 3

Released: November 1, 2005

Originally Released: 2005

Label: Grateful Dead / WEA

Description by OLDIES.com:

By 1969, the Grateful Dead's marathon free-form performances were fundamentally expanding the known boundaries of rock music. Grateful Dead Records' new 3-CD gold mine presents a bounty of iconic Dead songs recorded at their now-historic Fillmore West dates from February 27 to March 2, 1969. Indulge in the essential Grateful Dead at the Fillmore in 1969, the cosmic peak of their phenomenal rise to global superstardom.

Although many would argue that the Grateful Dead's groundbreaking LIVE DEAD album, the first-ever 16-track concert recording, couldn't be improved upon, the Rhino label boldly challenges that notion with FILLMORE WEST 1969. This three-disc set expands on the beloved original collection, presenting those legendary performances alongside a slew of additional tunes from the Dead's famous stint at San Francisco's Fillmore West in February and March of '69.

The first disc is the most blues-heavy of the three, with the Dead offering up a surprisingly straightforward version of "I'm a King Bee" and a spacious rendition of "Turn on Your Lovelight." Much of LIVE DEAD is drawn from what appears on the second disc here. It's the main event of FILLMORE WEST 1969, and features the glorious psych workouts of "Dark Star," "St. Stephen," and "The Eleven," which stand as a favorite musical triptych in the Dead canon and showcase Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, Ron "Pigpen" McKernan, and company in thrillingly adventurous form. Rounding out this formidable live outing, the third disc finds the ensemble launching into the fierce "That's It for the Other One," and getting definitively heady on the proto "space" jams "Drums," "Jam," and "Feedback." For any true Deadhead, this remarkable set is essential.